Each change in f-stops either decreases/increases the amount of light entering by half. Eg : f/4 to f/5.6 –> decreasing light entering the lens by half.

Smaller aperture ( aka large f-stops )= larger Depth Of Field ( DOF ) . Since smaller aperture greatly reduces the amount of light entering the camera, we can compensate by having a longer shutter speed.

Larger DOF = almost everything in the image will be focused.

Smaller DOF = Only a small part of the image is being focused, rest being blurred.

Shutter Speed

Defined as the mechanism which determines how long light will hit the image sensor.

Measure in seconds.

Fast shutter speed = freeze motion, good for moving objects.

Slow shutter speed = blur effect, good for conveying a sense of movement.

ISO

Defined as the sensitivity of the image sensor to light.

Higher numbers = more sensitivity to light but more noise. ( Noise refers to the “rice grains effect” seen in some images )

Pros: Shoot close-ups of objects from a distance. It enables you to shoot those stars performing in a concert easily without carrying a bazooka-like telephoto lens even though you might be eons away from the stage. xD

Cons: Not good for shooting in poor lighting. Grainy images will occur.

DSLR-

Pros: The self-declared king of all cameras. Muahaha. Ultimate image quality, full range of shooting controls etc. Large sensors that can capture finer details and a more dynamic range of colours…

Below are some techniques and tips which I read about in the newspapers or the net.. Hopefully it is useful to you readers out there =D

1. Don’t focus on only placing the important objects in the centre

– It can be made more interesting by using the rule of thirds. It is something like mentally dividing the scene into 3×3 boxes and placing the important objects at the point where the lines intersect. (Look at picture below)

cats eye – rule of thirds

credits to Liz Masoner, About.com

2. Try not to shoot right away

– Usually, cameras are programmed to ready themselves to take landscape photos with their lens at a wide-angle when it is first powered up. Thus the shot will look distorted. To overcome this issue, power up the camera > Zoom in > set the camera to Macro mode if there is > reposition yourself by moving backwards > take photo.

3. Shoot under natural light

– Natural light is always the best for food photography. Avoid the built-in flash if possible. The light from the flash is usually too harsh.

4. Using white balance and saturation settings

– For example, when you are in a restaurant which uses spotlights, your photos tend to be yellow. Use the white balance settings to compensate for the yellow light.
– Some cameras even have a mode specifically for food. Use them =)
– Adjusting saturation can sometimes make your photos look much more vibrant and colourful.